Sonia Bianchetti Responds to ISU Judge Interview

Bianchetti is a former ISU judge, referee, and official of 40 years. She sent me some comments in response to the Patrick Ibens interview I conducted a week ago, and says that, "the role of a judge now is as exciting as that of a cashier in a supermarket."

"the role of a judge now is as exciting as that of a cashier in a supermarket."

I am sure there are fans of the "sportliness" of figure skating who will agree that this is the way it should be.

A figure skating judge should be like a time-keeper for the hundred yard dash. One guy finishes in 9.33, the next guy finishes in 9.34. One skater deserves 7.25 for Transitions, the next skater deserves 7.50.

Now with the new system it's all gone. At the end of an event a judge does not even know where he placed a certain skater. It is not his business! The only concern of the judges now a days is to be sure to remain within the famous “corridor”. If a skater tries to do something special hardly any judge dares to reflect it in his marks. Never take the risk to be out of the corridor because you will not be given the chance to explain your point of view.

This is what I was talking about in the Judge's Interview thread. How can the result be fair and truly reflect the skater's abilities? Or truly reflect a skater's inability to do something? The judges are busy saving their own lives.

Bianchetti is a former ISU judge, referee, and official of 40 years. She sent me some comments in response to the Patrick Ibens interview I conducted a week ago, and says that, "the role of a judge now is as exciting as that of a cashier in a supermarket."

Thanks for another interesting interview.
Sonia seems to understand very well the problem with absolute judging and the pcs. It is and always will be comparitive.

"The PC marks do not reflect the skating but rather the starting order and the reputation of the skaters.
As long as the marks for the program components will have to be valued on an absolute scale, there is no way they can be correct."

Under 6.0, could V/M win OGM? I don't think so. They don't have a long senior career. Maybe OGM would have gone to Dom/Sha. Could Lysacek win OGM? Maybe OGM would have gone to Plushy because he did quad.

For example, when scoring the first three groups at the World Championships, you give between 5.50 and 7.00 and you are in the safe corridor. When the last groups come on the ice, give between 7.00 and 8.50 and you’re safe again!

Isn't this point of view the way 6.0 used to apply? Seems like she is criticizing the weakness of the base of 6.0..

Rather than the nitty gritty of the CoP, perhaps that could be shortened to one score for All Jumps, one score for All spins, one score for flowing (including footwork) over the ice, and last but not least since we insist it all must be done with music, one score for Musicality.

The above is how I judge personally when I am sitting in the stands. What else should I worry about? The five categories I use cover the whole scope of figure skating and should produce a winner. While it may look like the 6.0 system, it is decidely not, but covers the points that should have been covered in the 6.0 system. The only time I had a problem was in 2008 Worlds when my system tied Buttle and Joubert.

I'm not sure if Ms Bianchetti would approve my systen in toto, but at least in part. it would not be judging by the cash register.

Besides, having the ISU decide that a judge is only allowed to arrive on the spot of the competition on the day before the event and has to leave the day after the event, makes the social appeal of the sport gone. I wonder how many judges will be willing to fly may be 12 or more hours, judge two days and fly back, without even being able to see the rest of the competition.

Imagine, not being able to attend the competition after you have completed your assignment!